"Thank you, Damian. In looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000: take it from me, elections matter. If you think the next appointments to our Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter. If you live in the city of New Orleans, you know that elections matter. If you or a member of your family are serving in the active military, the National Guard or Reserves, you know that elections matter. If you’re a wounded veteran, you know that elections matter. If you lost your job, if you’re struggling with your mortgage, you know that elections matter. If you care about a clean environment, if you want a government that protects you instead of special interests, you know that elections matter. If you care about food safety, if you like a T on your BLT, you know that elections matter. If you bought poisoned, lead-filled toys from China or adulterated medicine made in China, if you bought tainted pet food made in China, you know that elections matter! After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter...so get out at VOTE in NOVEMBER!"
Estelle Getty, who played the wise-cracking and grumpy "Sophia Petrillo" in the 1980's hit television show The Golden Girls has died at 84. Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White released statements expressing their admiration for her.
At one point The Golden Girls was THE most funny prime time TV show, and a must watch show every week in my household in NY. It was pretty unique for 4-older women to carry a sitcom together!
By now it's very possible you have lost or known someone suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Just this year, an old family friend of mine named Bernie passed on. My close friend Gary's dad passed away this year, too. My partner at work Danny lost his father, who suffered from this horrible disease, too. It is a tragic and slow disease that shatters the memories of the vibrant people.
That's why I'd like to let everyone know about the Alzheimer's Memory Walk, which raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support, and research. I'm sure you've seen these 2-3 mile walks. Well, every community is looking for team captains and volunteers. It's pretty simple- yet important- and is held on a weekend morning this fall.
You can search for the closest chapter near you by following the links in this post. You can register online, get your own website, and invite others to join your team.
When I was a kid living in New York, July used to mean so much to me.
#1 NO SCHOOL #2 DAY CAMP #3 Can go to sleep whatever time I wanted #4 Went to Yankees Stadium and Shea Stadium #5 No winter coats, mittens (!), scarfs, ski caps, or goulashes (!) #6 No runny noses
As an adult living in South Florida? July is just another month. I'm serious. I don't have any kids, and don't go to school, so the whole "July = vacation" thing just doesn't mean anything to me anymore. I keep reminding myself that school's out when I'm driving and see kids/teens walking around during school hours.
At my day job, I just meet production deadlines. I have a white board with red markers indicating job codes and due dates. I rush to gets projects out to meet each month's billing cycle. So July 31 has the same meaning as October 31.
In terms of weather, in Florida it's always hot, sunny, and rainy. (Yet in July, the rain can get pretty bad at times.) In New York, July = beach. In Florida, one is hard pressed to see the season changes.
In many ways, I always associated July and summertime with youthful innocence, excitement, and not having responsibilty. But once one becomes an adult, it's just another month.
In high school, I started to see how July began to lose its luster: some of my classmates who were around 15+ began to get summer jobs or went to summer school to get more credits. I finally gave into the nerd peer pressure to be productive during summer vacations, and that was the beginning of the end for July.
July 4th? Fireworks? ONE DAY OFF? Big deal.
I wouldn't even have known it was July if not for work due dates.
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Christian Bale (Batman and Bruce Wayne) may be in trouble with the law.
"The Dark Knight" star was allegedly arrested in London for assault. His mother and sister pressed charges. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY and nothing has been confirmed. The source was the BRITISH MEDIA.
The huge Internet news today is that criminalsearches.com is up and running (Beta). It is FREE and enables quick and easy criminal record searches.
Stuff like this is very appealing for people who want to look up their co-worker, neighbor, or dating partner.
Before you get too excited about accessing public records, here is my quick review of the site:
Not all criminal databases are used; it is NOT all-encompassing. It doesn't seem to go back very far, either.
A lot of people whom I know have been convicted of crimes simply do not come up in the search results.
If you type "Larry" but the person's name is "Lawrence", you are out of luck.
Most links send you to paid sites where you can get full background checks.
The site looks lite it was slapped together in a couple of weeks.
There is nothing NEW on this site. You can simply go to your County's Clerk of Courts website to find the same thing. However, criminalsearches.com combines many Clerks of Court databases.
And now, here are my thoughts on the ethics of this site:
As soon as word gets around, everyone is going to be looking up each other. I wonder how many relationships will be damaged with the heavy marketing of this site, which is so free and easy? [Please note: every state has court records and prison records available, but they are not marketed well, so the general public doesn't really know about them.]
There is a sex offender page, so you can find sex offenders that live in your zip code or near your home. I wonder how much harassment (or harm) these people are going to be dealing with now.
People will feel that the site is valid, reliable, and an authority about if someone is a criminal or not, but they would be mistaken. How many people have the same name? It's like online polls- a fun little thing to do and waste time, but nothing to base decisions on or take seriously.
We live in a myspace, youtube, facebook, ebay, google searches, and craigslist world. Nothing is private and nothing is sacred. It USED to be that if you had a spotty history, you can at least start a "new life" at a new job or if you move to a different town you can get a second chance. Now, your history follows you around wherever you go. And heaven help you if your name is "John Smith".
Yeah, I know, my old buddy Mike would say, "It's all public record". But what's going to be happening is that people will run your name through, and make a pre-judgment against you (including job interviews).
Females who have committed crimes are in danger if some pervert wants to visit or stalk a troubled woman lives near him.
I can list so many things about how the negatives outweigh the positives, but I'm not asking for a call to action. It is what it is. My only warning to you is that if you use it, realize that the database is not accurate, it is easy to misidentify people with similar or the same names, if you type any part of the name wrong you get no results, and that you should judge a person based on what you see and hear, not what some automated website says.
Have you heard about AbsoluteCalm yet? Absolute Calm is a natural herbal supplement (not a drug) and can be ordered online.
What does it do? It helps athletes calm and relax their body and nerves before and during their game or competition. This makes them feel refreshed and focused, and testimonials indicate that performance increases as well.
To put it simply, Absolute Calm promotes an anti-stress outlook during stressful activities, but without the strong sedative effect found in drugs.
It helps you relax in as little as fifteen minutes and can continue to work for up to eight hours. That means it will last long enough for you to maintain your focus and clarity to stay in the zone.
I sure wish the Yankees Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) would get some Absolute Calm. He has been to numerous psychologists and sports therapists because he gets too nervous with base runners in scoring position. Many baseball players get too tense if there are two outs or they need to get an RBI. A-Rod also chokes during the post-season, so he is someone who should really check out this all-natural product.
The great part about Absolute Calm is that it is not for athtles only. If you work in a stressful job during the day, this product would give you the focus and clarity to remain calm and relaxed and to perform well under pressure.
Lou Dobbs has been the voice of the Middle Class for years now, and I just wanted to give him some props here.
First, let me list what some of his critics are saying:
"Dobbs also systematically ignores or discounts the benefits of trade and outsourcing to the U.S. economy and workers. Free trade is a working family's best friend, delivering lower prices, more choice and better quality to shoppers by protecting them from potential domestic monopolies."
"Sadly, Lou Dobbs has become the Dan Rather of financial journalism. He thinks he knows the truth before actually investigating a story and he latches on to whatever documentation he can find, no matter how questionable, that seems to support his thesis."
"Dobbs has failed to present mounting and persistent evidence of anti-Hispanic racism in anti-immigration groups and citizen border patrols."
"Mr. Dobbs argues that the middle class has many enemies: corporate lobbyists, greedy executives, wimpy journalists, corrupt politicians. But none play a bigger role than illegal immigrants. As he sees it, they are stealing our jobs, depressing our wages and even endangering our lives."
"So Mr. Dobbs was flat-out wrong [about illegal immigrants carrying leprosy]. And when I spoke to him yesterday, he admitted as much, sort of. I read him Ms. Romans’s comment — the one with the word “suddenly” in it — and he replied, “I think that is wrong.” He then went on to say that as far as he was concerned, he had corrected the mistake by later broadcasting another report."
"On the air, he boomingly assails the upper management of corporate America for its “outrageous” greed, pay packages, and corruption, its opposition to increasing the minimum wage, its hiring of “illegal aliens,” its ties to “Communist China,” and its eagerness to send American jobs overseas."
" You might expect that sort of McCarthyesque description from Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh or some other famously right-wing provocateur on Fox or talk-radio. But Lou Dobbs, on CNN? Night after night, under the rousing headline "Broken Borders," the distinguished-looking 61-year-old instructs his growing audience that illegal immigrants import deadly diseases, rampant crime and international terrorism; they live off welfare, destroy public schools and burden hospitals; what's more, most haven't even learned to speak English. Dobbs declares, our lawmakers are doing nothing about it."
And now here's my take:
Dobbs is the one of the few well-known and members of the mainstream MEDIA that actually speaks up and holds journalists, news networks, corporations, government, and both parties accountable for their actions.
Yes, he's a populist. Yes, he's an Independent now. Yes, he is tired of the lies and scams. Yes, he's not buying McCain or Obama.
No, he's not a racist (I think his Hispanic wife would be shocked). He's just one of the few CNN anchors who dares to say the phrase "illegal aliens" instead of "undocumented immigrants". He, like me, believes that someone who is in a country unauthorized IS illegal, and needs to be deported.
Lou STEPS on toes every night because the Party Line says that outsourcing and China are GOOD.
Lou hates Democrats and Republicans now, so you can imagine how party members hate the fact that CNN gives him a lot of air time.
Lou has the LOOK of a distinguished conservative. He SOUNDS like an authority figure. He is mighty influential. And that pisses a LOT of people off- especially high-brow intellectual economists, who can't stand his populist views or ideas. Lou is neither left wing nor right wing, and the fact that he can only be labeled a "crusader for the Middle Class" enrages many commentators.
Lou wants a shake up for the U.S. He doesn't believe in L.M.E. (Lazy Man Ethics). I enjoy having Lou on in the background because his stories are made in a way that is accessible for mainstream audiences. When he rants and raves, people can take him a bit more seriously than some other very popular radio talk show hosts.
Lou attacked all the news networks, including his own CNN, for over-hyping Obamamania's International Tour (tm) while McCain's coverage when he went overseas was virtually non-existent. Lou said the reason was to increase rating and circulation (to make profit).
I know, you couldn't resist buying the original iPhone. But if you were afraid of the price tag, you went ahead and bought the iPhone 3G. Of course, since AT&T's mandatory 2-year plan has increased by $10/per month (and if you aren't "upgrading"), there is no price break. That's something Apple doesn't advertise.
So, let's say you got duped and bought it anyway. I assume (tried) to cancel your existing cell phone, otherwise it would be awfully redundant to have two cells phones, right? Can't get out of that Verizon contract, huh? Awww...
Well, by now (assuming you got past all the red tape and stress to actually sign up and ACTIVATE your new iPhone) you should have noticed that although the interface rocks and is simple, the consumer irreplaceable BATTERY loses power awfully quickly.
I keep reading and hearing about a struggling economy, yet it seems so many people are quick to use their credit card to "upgrade" and fork over $200 (8GB) or $300 (16GB), with 24-month AT&T contract worth around $70-$100 per month.
It is very important to note that if you aren't upgrading than the price is actually 400 dollars. And if you do not want to hack the iPhone (see various message boards) and use it on another network the price of no-commitment contract is $600 dollars. WOW.
Also consider this: there are cheaper clones and more capable touch screen phones out there.
There is no doubt there are cool applications on the iPhone, and it's very easy to surf (but do you REALLY think all your favorite web pages will display properly? Not.) But you really need to take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror to justify why it would be that important.
I mean, I'm sure you HAVE Internet access at home. So why pay twice? I'm sure you already have a cell phone. You may even have a REAL GPS (iPhone doesn't have real-time- it uses Google Maps- HA!) And a better camera. And an iPod or mp3 player that can display photos and video. Or a laptop.
But you just HAD to get this, don't you. (By the way, be sure not to DROP this little guy.)
You don't care that Apple is using you like a tool with an upgrade and "price drop" every 6 months, right? Who says peer pressure is dead?
You know, I could understand it if you're making $70,000 and your wife is too.
But you're probably not, and if you are, you probably have so many expenses that you still live from paycheck to paycheck.
Do you REALLY need portable Internet at your office?
I could be persuaded to understand it if you were on the road all the time.
Other than that it seems more of a vanity thing than a practical thing.
Hey, I'm just trying to save on your monthly bills every month.
Because I really do care about you and the economy.
Just chew on this, for something that suggests it's an all-encompassing entertainment (Internet/phone/music/GPS hand held computer):
No Flash player for rich media content (Apple hates Adobe?) Can’t send pictures in instant messages No mobile TV No replaceable battery No flash memory card No Linux compatibility You're going to be dropping hundreds of dollars on upgrades for years
Universal Medical ID offers bracelets, necklaces, watches and sport bands in a wide variety of styles and makes, such as gold, gold-filled, sterling silver, stainless steel, titanium, and nylon medical ID jewellery.
Why are medical identification accessories important? Because in the time of an emergency, many patients cannot speak for themselves, and correct diagnosis in the first few minutes is critical.
In what has been a trend, and what is sure to continue to be the wave of the future, old episodes of an old TV shows are now online and being repacked as something new, when in reality, they are not original at all.
At least the Muppets online have new skits with those two old critics.
Just in time for 2008 and FINAL CRISIS, it is the triumphant "return" of....
It's amazing how much positive buzz Fat Albert is getting again. I mean, his live "action" movie bombed. The DVDs have been around since 2005, and we've seen as many reruns as we possibly could take. Now there is buzz that Fat Albert is officially on the youtube, brought to you by Sony.
Finally, thanks to ConsumerPriceWatch.net, anyone who is trying to avoid getting scammed can find out the 10 best diet pills. This website has taken all the guesswork out of it by rating the major diet pills with the following criterion: Value, Ingredient Quality, Customer Feedback, Safety,Company Reputation, Reorder Rates, Customer Service, Product Sensation, Packaging, Long-Term Benefits, Product Convenience, and Weight-Loss Potential.
Did you ever hear of the weight loss pill called 7-DFBX? Have you ever wondered if it really is possible to Lose 17 pounds in 7 days? Well, ConsumerPriceWatch.net found that taking 7-DFBX along with a Smart Carb diet that it did happen. 7-DFBX contains a blend of Natural Detoxifying ingredients that promote weight loss by flushing toxins out from our bodies.
I definitely recommend that you check out their site so you can see the reviews yourself. In addition to ranking the Top Ten best diets pills they searched the Internet for the lowest price diet pills.
It's official, before it even opened, The Dark Knight defeated The Incredible Hulk. The sheer amount of buzz from the mainstream MEDIA and great reviews had assured victory a week before the movie was released. It's ironic because Batman defeated The Hulk in an old inter-company crossover issue. Batman threw gas pellets on the floor, and when the Hulk went to hold his breath Batman gave a judo kick to the stomach. so the Hulk was forced to breath in the sleeping gas.
Of course, thanks to Heath Ledger's death, the Joker is more popular than Batman right now. And everyone who reads comics knows that you can't really beat the Joker.
Ultimately, the new Hulk movie was disappointing to critics and box office alike.
I don't mean to rip Obama or accuse him of being arrogant or anything, but I have an innocent question: how long has this tradition of presidential part candidates giving speeches in other countries been around?
Obama is going to be giving speeches and making appearances in Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and England. Last time I checked other countries can't vote in November's US Presidential Election.
Is he auditioning? Practicing? Looking for good PR shots? Making him look like a legitamate World Leader (tm)? Stroking the ego a bit?
You do realize protocol dictates that he cannot bash President Bush during these speeches? You realize that he You do realize that his change platform is a gimmick by now, right? Everything suggests that continuity set up by Bush and his cronies will guide our foreign policy even if Obama wins and the Democrats take charge.
Here are some things Obama has changed his views on. Seems like the more things "change", the more they stay the same.
It's very possible that I wouldn't be here today without the help of Fred Warren Hinde.
I'll always remember the first day I met Fred. I was at the lowest point of my life, and sought a professional to work with me and get my head on straight- I was a confused, depressed, anti-social, hurt, and angry teenager who had just lost all of my money, status, self-respect, confidence, future, potential, and reputation.
Fred, who was a tall, big, and older man towered over me, but he greeted me with a jolly smile and chuckle, like Santa Claus, and shook my hand with the power that I had lacked.
Fred immediately asked me to forgive myself for creating the circumstances leading up to my state of pain. From the moment he laid eyes upon me he saw that I was a good person, a smart person, and an ethical and moral person, who just happened to make one wrong decision.
Here was Fred- a total stranger- who was able to see the real me, just by sensing my aura, composure, my speech patterns, and my answers. He gave me the benefit of the doubt, and I am eternally grateful.
Fred made sure to tell me that I was not his patient- that I was his client. And after a few visits, he told me I was his friend. Fred and I would have deep discussions about all aspects of life, from religion to politics to women to how he became a psychologist to his own personal history and views. We respected each other's opinions, and he treated me as his equal, even though he was by all accounts a genius in the field of psychology.
I had studied psychology in school, and Fred always hoped I would pursue it. He would go on to teach me why compassion, empathy, listening, and love are traits everyone should have. He truly believed that 99% of the people were innately good.
He took me under his wing, and we would have lunch together so many times- his treat because he said he invited me, and I wasn't working yet. Thanks to his confidence-building, however, he taught me the skills to go on an interview, and how to be genuine. I finally was able to pay for his lunch with time.
Fred got me interested in dream interpretation, and bought me a dream book. He also was very open-minded about rebirths and past lives, and gave me a book on that. Fred believed in a Force that made up the universe. And he believed in karma. When my cat required surgery, he handed me $100 without me asking for hit. He told me to pay him back one day when I could, but when I tried to give him the money years later, he wouldn't take it.
Fred Hinde loved me unconditionally, and I loved him unconditionally. We shared all our fears, desires, and thoughts, without fear of judgment. I told him I was concerned about his smoking habits since he was in his early 60's, but it was something he was used to and enjoyed, and said it was his choice. I realized that it was his choice, and I didn't nag him anymore. He had lived a full, happy, productive life, and did so much good for people.
He encouraged me and recommended me to go to technical school to study programming. That lead me to a stable job.
That was Fred- always helping and giving to people who wanted to better their lives. The sheer knowledge and philosophies Fred shared with me, like how it's acceptable to say "no" to people, and how to have empathy yet still realize that my feelings are ultimately more important than other people's is too much for a blog post. Fred was honest and firm when it came to giving constructive advise, but said it in a way that was not brutally honest. He talked about not taking things personally, and striving to see things objectively.
One day, Fred told me that I was ready to be fully integrated back into society, and that I had been so for some time; I had held a job for a year or so, and although I still had my high and lows and will always have a quirky and sarcastic personality, he knew I was fine.
Like an injured bird, he had nurtured me back to good health, and let me fly away on my own, without looking back. I had kept in touch with him perhaps once a year just to tell him that I was okay. I never told him about any drama or negative stuff going on.
I tried to get into contact him a few years ago to tell him about my fiance, but one of his office's answering machines never got to him.
This Friday night I wanted to tell him how much he positively affected my life, and for him to meet my wife, who is caring just like he. I was up all night thinking about all the things he and I talked about, and how our friendship was 100% genuine, and how he went above and beyond any professional. I used to laugh when he had told me he disliked paperwork, procedures, and board meetings.
Fred also allowed me to take charge in group settings, and gave me valuable experience being his sidekick when it came to helping people with substance abuse problems, and people who were trapped by the invisible chains we all imprison ourselves with.
Fred was the type of man who worked to make a difference in people's lives one person at a time, and he had once told me about other people whom he had helped in the past. I wanted to call Fred Monday and tell him how much I appreciated him, and how altruistic he was. Of course, I had already told him these things years ago, but I know that he would be very proud of my marriage and how stable my life has become, walking the right path.
Fred and I didn't have to maintain constant contact. I always saw him as my guardian angel, with his warm smile and gentle laugh, looking out for me. He had actually wrote several letters of recommendation for me, and put his reputation on the line. Whereas many other people talk the talk, Fred wrote his signature on more than one occasion to benefit me without the slightest second of hesitation or with lawyers involved.
His telephone number was unlisted, and since most of his career was spent pre-Internet, I had problems trying to records of him. I finally called some message service for an office listed under his name, and a woman called back.
She informed me Fred died of a heart attack around 3 years ago.
I've been crying on and off again for around 16 hours this past day, as much as I try to hold it in. Fred would know it's part of the normal grieving process. And he wouldn't want me to be sad. But I can't hold it in. I wanted to say goodbye, and tell him how much of an influence he had on my life, and the lives of all the others I have positively touch, like my friends and family. That is good karma in action, and Fred Hinde was the only father figure I had since I moved down here to Florida. It was because of him that I am here now. I know he refused to take credit for anything, but I know he would have liked to hear the words from my mouth one more time. But I can rest easily knowing that Fred was satisfied and finished with me, and that he knew I was fine.
Fred Hinde is a role model for all humankind, one of the most kindest and gentle human beings, yet someone who could be tough and aggressive to get something done. I'm sharing my experiences with him so everyone knows and strive to follow his example.
An eye for an eye makes the world blind. Only through understanding and compassion for others AND ourselves, can we begin to change the world.
If any of Fred's family or friends read this post, I would appreciate if I can contact Mary and tell her how much Fred meant to me and my family.
DC Comics will throw its hat into the arena of online computer and video games with DC Universe Online, by Executive Creative Director Jim Lee. In this game, you create your own character (like WarCraft) and fight alongside all of the heroes and villains of the DCU.
It will be available for PC and PS3, and DC took the right step to get more fans. Online game subscriptions (MMORPG) is a goldmine for companies.
It's not ready for release yet, but will be soon.
Anyway, I'm happy for Jim Lee, and hope that this game makes everyone a lot of money.
Having debt is actually necessary to function in society- after all, who has money to buy a house, car, or college all at once? Without loans it is just not possible for an average citizen to try and better his or her life.
That being said, getting too far into debt can be avoided by budgeting smart, maintaining employment, and not making unnecessary purchases with numerous credit cards. Making the minimum credit card payment is not good at all. Missing payments will bury you even deeper. Skipping on a mortgage payment is begging for home foreclosure proceedings to commence.
One major step I take to avoid bankruptcy is to make my payments on time every month. The payments are sizable, too. It's the only way to chip away at the interest fees.
Now, if your debt is very deep and complicated, and you are struggling to budget yourself, a UK company like Abacus Debt Management can help you make one affordable payment to them, which is distributed to your creditors. Many times, this new payment is half of your existing payments, but obviously will depend upon individual circumstances.
Unlike an IVA, debt management is an informal agreement, which does not involve courts and does not require high minimum debts.
Another controversial magazine cover will be released July 21st- this time The New Yorker will release a "Politics of Fear" story, with a Barack and Michelle Obama terrorist cover, which satirizes right-wing fears that have been pitched by some extreme conservatives.
People are already protesting the satire, because the cover is being taken out of context already on message boards.
Since I notice some of DailySkew readers don't get parody or satire, let me explain The New Yorker'scover:
Many right-wing Christian GOP Rush Limbaugh-listening extremists truly believe that the Obamas are black militants, Muslim, and un-American. Heck, even Hillary Clinton and her followers believed it, or at least forwarded e-mail spam saying as much. So the picture you see on the cover of TheNew Yorker does not mean that the editors believe that Obama is a terrorist spy; they are reflecting the character assassin jobs that some right wingers have been selling all year.
Tony Snow, 53, died after a long battle with colon cancer. He was best known as President Bush's controversial selection for White House Press Secretary, spinning the company line, but having previously made critical comments about Bush prior to being hired.
President Bush said: "America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work."
Tony Snow was a intelligent and creative conservative, and had stints with NPR, FOX News, The Rush Limbaugh Show, and The O'Reilly Factor.
As Bush's official spokesman, it was hard to separate fact from fiction with his press briefing propaganda spins, but he was an excellent and sharp worker in whatever he did.
Before Tony Snow is exalted into a saint, I do want the record to show how liberals hated him being Bush's Ministry of Propaganda.
I'm sure a fool like Keith Olbermann (he should have stuck with ESPN) will run a teary-eyed tribute to Tony Snow this weekend. MEANWHILE, take a look how Olbermann covered Snow:
PC's can be very frustrating- from computers freezing up, crashes, the Blue Screen of death, booting issues, not finding the temp file you downloaded from e-mail, and to being forced to look for certain drivers to make a computer game install correctly. A personal computer is supposed to be fun, and for a small business it's supposed to be efficient, secure, and user friendly without the technical problems.
Microsoft is not denying that when Windows Vista was first released there were some compatibility and performance issues. Over the last 18 months, the Microsoft team has reviewed all of the issues, and has taken steps to improve and help your computer experience.
When you buy a new PC with Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate, you will get free support, compatibility assistance, and coaching from Microsoft to help ensure the smooth transition. (Microsoft has stopped selling Windows XP as of June 30.) Windows Customer Support is ready and willing to help you get things going.
Finally, Windows Vista supports 77,000 printers, cameras, speakers and other devices and components that many people had problems installing (this is double the amount from launch). When you plus a device in, it will install and work properly- without a CD.
Part Two of Damian Hospital's Ennegram workshop lecture. Click here for Type One.
The Two, also called The Helper, is caring, generous, possessive, and manipulative.
Key motivations: Want to be loved, to express their feelings towards others. To be needed and appreciated. To vindicate claims about themselves.
Healthy Twos: Compassionate, with empathy, feeling with and for others. Caring and concerned about their needs. Outgoing, passionate. Offer friendship and kindness. Thoughtful, warm hearted, giving. Able to see the good on others. Dedicated and supportive of people. Nurturing and giving. Radiantly joyous.
Average Twos: "People pleasers" with the intention to get closer to others. Overly friendly, emotionally demonstrative, seductive, flattering. Talkative, especially about love and relationships. Intrusive, and overly intimate. Hovering, meddling, and controlling in the name of love. Want others to depend on them. Give, but expect in return. Mixed signals. Possessive. Overly caring, wearing everyone out. Increasingly self-important. Seek specific forms of repayment. Overate their efforts. Feel indispensable.
Unhealthy Twos: Manipulative and self-serving, instilling guilt by making others feel indebted to them. Abuse food and medication to get sympathy. Undermine people by making belittling and disparaging remarks. Self-deceptive about their true motives, and how selfish and aggressive their behavior is. Feel entitled to get anything they want from others by acting domineering and coercive. Leads to chronic health problems and fall apart to burden others.
Damian Hospital's personal experience with Ones:
Where do I begin? Most people have close female relatives that are Twos, and I am no different. Indeed, the average female in our society is often expected to be a Type Two- which is being a loving mother, hostess, and someone that values feelings and emotions. Tony Vahl and I believe that the personification of Mother Earth is a Type Two. There is no question that Type Two's are the embodiment of the social norm for a female, cliched or not.
Female Twos (especially from previous generations) have a habit of worrying and nagging and babying. They hate being alone, and need to have a role as a nurturer- from being a parent, to raising animals, gardening, or being a babysitter. Younger Twos would never admit to worrying or nagging.
Many Twos are wanna-be Fours, and they are attracted to the non-mainstream, rebels, artists, and creativity. They hate to judge others (and hate to be judged). Although they worship anti-authority, they are generally too inhibited, shy, or self-conscious to deal with the independent spirit and conflict that Fours deal with. Twos like to host, make meals, make you laugh, and to have FUN, while Fours may do those things, too, they have a deeper edge.
Twos generally idealize their mates, and expect unconditional attention and love in return. Because of this impractical desire, their relationships are drama-filled, and can go downhill pretty fast. Twos are emotional and irrational in average or unhealthy relationships.
Twos battle self-esteem issues and are awfully sensitive. They need a pat on the back, and if they feel that they are being used, you will feel their wrath. They are helpful, yes, but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
The Twos I know have issues with technical things and memory. The left brain/right brain myth seems true with Twos. They loves dreams, music, songs, cartoons, movies, TV, and other forms of entertainment.
Occupation-wise, Twos excel at care giving, reception desk, medical, dental, massage, physical therapy, and try to avoid high-stressful technical positions and professional cutthroat jobs. Average Twos value their happiness and fun times so much that they don't like to sacrifice their recreational activities and hobbies.
There may not be an Enneagram Type wing as different as a "straight Two" and a Two with a Three Wing (2w3). The 3 wing brings out the motivational skills and drive from the Two. 2w3 can turn off the emotions and can be thick-skinned, while 2's take everything personally. 2w3 are more outgoing and talkative (which says a lot). They must be surrounded by friends for self-worth, and they love gossip, scandals, etc. 2w3's have a more confident exterior, but know there role as a helper. They are the masters of stroking egos for something in return, while the straight is more relaxed in the business world.
Neither type likes rules and regulations, and want exceptions as a reward for their being a "good person who makes sacrifices", although an old fashioned 2w3 will serve her boss with no questions asked if she is treated well. 2w3's are tough, and can be mistaken for 8's. 2w3's place a high value on materialism and image.
All Twos like to live free, and based on the setting can be hippies, earth-mothers, biker chicks, New Age, groupies, worshipful of celebrities, , etc.
Now...regarding male Twos: they really stand out since they are more in touch with emotions and being sensitive; John Wayne they are NOT. Although sexual orientation has nothing to do with the Enneagram, many male Twos can be mistakenly judged as being gay based on some stereotypes people have about "gay mannerisms" or "gay hobbies" (like a man taking care of plants or going out of his way to cook meals or wear bracelets or have cats as pets).
Most male Twos love being sidekicks and part of the crowd. They also have relationship issues because they see themselves as being walked all over and being a victim in a dominate relationship. Like all Twos, they insist on being repaid for their niceness.
Male 2w3's, like their female counterparts, seem to have a split personality, and can be seen as phony.
All types of Twos can be seen as child-like, simplistic, and never act their age, from a 55-year old women dating a 25-year old, to a 70-year old salesman in a sports car.
That being said, they are very inspiring and even average Twos will make you feel happy, take care of you, have compassion, and bring a different perspective to the table. In a world where everyone cares about the bottom dollar, Twos care about putting smiles on faces.
The most healthy Two I personally had the honor of meeting is named Fred Hinde. He has an unconditional love, understanding, and compassion for all of humanity, yet is still one of the most masculine and intelligent men you'd ever meet. He knew about the power of forgiveness, and never asked for anything in return.
Although I have lived from paycheck to paycheck at times in my life, I've never had issues with drowning in credit card debt. I realize I am extremely lucky in that respect. Part of the reason why I never had to deal with Bankruptcy is because I keep my expenses low every month, and save money for the inevitable emergencies.
However, some members of my family and my co-workers have been struggling with running up credit cards because they don't have enough paycheck cash from week to week. This forces them to buy the cell phones, cars, computers, toys for their children, shoes, and pocketbooks on credit, in addition to juggling school loans and mortgages. With the price of gas increasing and the difficulty of selling a home right now, many of my co-workers and family members are feeling the crunch and need Debt relief and Debt help.
A site like BillsIQ will analyze your financial health, and give you pointers on what types of Debt consolidation would work best for you.
For example, if you are just paying the minimum amounts for your credit cards every month, you are actually digging yourself in a bigger hole. If you make late payments or skip payments, your credit score is going to take a hit. In the United States poor credit is like invisible chains that prevent you from achieving your dreams.
Wall-E's social and environment messages kind of make the movie a modern age Soylent Green or a kid's version of 2001. There is no arguing that the graphics and likability of the main robot (Wall-E) were top-notch. It was surprising to me that Disney would allow Pixar to insult their paying customers by portraying the human characters as obese, lazy, fickle, and dumb Americans. Wall-E is a unique and different movie in the Disney and Pixar universe (although Wall-E visually looks like Short Circuit and sounds like E.T.) , in that there is hardly any dialogue, and the grim future earth rivals the earth in I am Legend when it comes to feeling depressed, soulless, and dark (the only animal left is a cockroach). (Speaking of that cockroach, only Disney can make us feel empathy for a cockroach! lol)
There were a lot of Easter eggs in the movie that I observed, which showed me that the Pixar folks wrote a very high-brow script and managed to keep the movie marketable and mainstream without sacrificing intelligence.
I had some emotional moments with Wall-E and even the roach.
But...
(Here it comes)
That being said...
As much as I should be happy that Pixar treated me to a socially relevant animated movie, written for kids and adults alike...
I love the character Wall-E, but let's just say I'd like to see him in a more lighthearted and faster paced movie, and with some real dialogue! Yeah, I know I'm a party-pooper; I'm sorry.
Movies from the 1980's, like WarGames, are severely underrated today. Part of the fact is that today's viewers focus on special effects and haircuts. Since I was raised in the 1980's I pretty much enjoyed every movie from that era, such as Amadeus, the two Star Wars movies, Back to the Future, E.T., Platoon, The Princess Bride (most memorable scene occurs when the swordsman confronts his father's killer), the Indiana Jones movies, RoboCop, Terminator, Batman, Tootsie, and a whole lot more I'm probably forgetting.
Speaking of WarGames, a 25th Anniversary release will be played at select theaters on Thursday, July 24th. It's a one night only event and will include interviews with the creators and actors Mathew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, who will discuss the movie's relevance today. Additionally, there will be a sneak peek feature about WarGames' sequel – WarGames: The Dead Code.
Yahoo news, using some Hollywood quotes on "perception" and box office numbers, has written off a Hulk movie sequel.
Ultimately, the article says, when everything was said and done, the new Hulk movie will struggle to make as much national and worldwide profit as the Ang Lee version from 5 years ago.
I don't think this had anything to do with the quality of the movie. This had to do with Hulk being a "remake" (reboot) of a movie that for all practical terms "just came out". Fans dug Iron Man. Fans will dig Iron Man 2. Fans won't dig an Iron Man reboot in 5 years.
Although both directors have different styles and interpretations of the Marvel super-hero, the bottom line is that both versions were action orientated and starred the Savage Hulk (as opposed to the other Hulk incarnations, such as the "Mr. Fixit" grey Hulk or the "Dr. Banner" Hulk, which has Banner's mind controlling the Hulk's body).
One can assume that a 3rd Hulk movie would make less money.
It's seems that all the negative talk about the "disappointing" numbers from the MEDIA (the studio is OK with the numbers) have reduced the "franchise" to Marvel's B-List. With all the comic book movies out, not having a 3rd Hulk movie should be the least of anyone's concern.
Finally, the Hulk as a character just doesn't have the blockbuster appeal of Spider-Man, X-Men, Batman, Superman, or Iron Man because...well...he's portrayed as a savage misunderstood beast, like Godzilla or King Kong; he's not really a hero that kids look up to.
Check out the Hulk's various comic books for different takes. The savage version is towards the bottom of the list in terms of enjoyable and popular stories.
Iran test-fired a missile, which caused U.S. officials to express their fear and anger over Iran's missile program, which could lead to war.
Nine missiles were fired off simultaneously from an undisclosed location in the Iranian desert. According to Iran state television, one missile has "a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range."
"The aim of these war games is to show we are ready to defend the integrity of the Iranian nation," Al-Alam quoted them as saying.
"Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy. The enemy must not repeat its mistakes. The enemy targets are under surveillance."
White House spokesman: "Iran's development of ballistic missiles is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world."
He said that Iran's ballistic missiles could be used as "a delivery vehicle for a potential nuclear weapon".
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice:"It's evidence that the missile threat is not an imaginary one."
My take (I'm kinda on the fence):
1) Nations should be allowed to test missiles and flex their muscles- why is the U.S. only allowed to do that? 2) I'm not ready to support another "initiative" and declare war. I'd rather WAIT for Iran to strike Israel, and then have the U.S. follow the treaty to protect our allies. 3) The White House is spinning fear, and it's working. Anyone who seriously follows current events is a bit smarter than the Joe Water Cooler, and many conservatives I know (mostly clients) are dead afraid of Iran, and are okay with a preemptive strike against Iran. 4) Let the U.N. worry about it if a violation occurred. 5) Iran insists its nuclear program for at generating energy for their growing population whose fossil fuel reserves will eventually run out. So until they decide to bomb Israel, the U.S. should butt out. 6) I DON'T share the talk radio call to action to stop Iran before they launch a nuclear war-head. 7) Do I believe Iran is plotting something? Sure. What? Who knows? It could all be posturing.
Obama and McCain differ:
Obama:
"I think what this underscores is the need for us to create a kind of policy that is putting the burden on Iran to change behavior, and frankly we just have not been able to do that over the last several years."
McCain: "Working with our European and regional allies is the best way to meet the threat posed by Iran, not unilateral concessions that undermine multilateral diplomacy."
If your organization or office has paper documents (mortgages, deeds, medical, blueprints, contracts, engineering drawings, human resource documents, etc.) it makes sense to digitize them to PDFs, TIFFs, or JPGs.
A company like Advanced Imaging Solutions: The Microfilm Depot has been Florida document scanning for decades, and has a reputation for being quality orientated. In other words, owner Chris Ferrer won't sell you garbage, and will try his best to deliver a usable product.
You must be responsible when taking care of your pet.
Here's a list of some household foods you need to keep away from your dog, because they are FATAL:
Grapes and raisins
Apple seeds
Nuts
Chocolate
Onions
Stuff that ruins digestion and may cause a visit to the vet or poison control:
Potatoes
Gum and candy
Turkey skin
Fatty foods
Cocoa bean shells
Mulch
Avocado
Coffee
Garbage - moldy and rotten food in the street or your house
Raw salt
Yeast dough
beer/wine/alcohol
The fact is that this list should have been given to you when you bought your dog. I hope you spread the word, and keep an eye on your dog when you walk him or her, and when they are around other people.
"Thank you, Damian. In looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000: take it from me, elections matter. If you think the next appointments to our Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter. If you live in the city of New Orleans, you know that elections matter. If you or a member of your family are serving in the active military, the National Guard or Reserves, you know that elections matter. If you’re a wounded veteran, you know that elections matter. If you lost your job, if you’re struggling with your mortgage, you know that elections matter. If you care about a clean environment, if you want a government that protects you instead of special interests, you know that elections matter. If you care about food safety, if you like a T on your BLT, you know that elections matter. If you bought poisoned, lead-filled toys from China or adulterated medicine made in China, if you bought tainted pet food made in China, you know that elections matter! After the last eight years, even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter...so get out at VOTE in NOVEMBER!"
